#60: Jack Ham | The Top 100: NFL's Greatest Players (2010) | NFL Films
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- Опубліковано 11 вер 2024
- Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Jack Ham comes in as the 60th best player in NFL history on NFL Film's "The Top 100: NFL's Greatest Players" list (2010).
Jack is currently the radio announcer for penn state's football games. I love listening to him. Hes every bit as good at analyzing the games as he was playing them.
Dennis Miller is currently... who cares?
The amount of hall of famers on those 70’s Steelers teams is ridiculous
And you could make a pretty good case for Greenwood and maybe Andy Russell.
@@williamcurtin5692 For crying out loud, they had 5 hall of famers on defense alone and 3 of those guys won DPOY. That’s just unfair
LC Greenwood should def be in if Donnie Shell is
Don't forget ProBowl games in 70's n early 80's .....many Steelers helmets in those Red uniforms!!!! Glad I got to see it.
The weakest player on those defenses was 2 time pro bowler Glen Edwards…
Part of the reason Ham had so many interceptions was that the linebackers rarely blitzed - they didn't have to. The front four were able to get pressure without them.
Ryan when you have Mean Joe, Dwight White, Ernie Holms and L.C. Greenwood as your front Four, " The Original Steel Curtain ", you shouldn't have to rush!
Just sit back in pass coverage and collect all the interceptions you want...
Well, he still had to play outstanding pass defense and actually grab those picks.
Another reason is that even in obvious passing situations with 3 or more receivers on the field the linebackers would rarely come off for a sub-package of defensive backs. They played every down almost.
i thought a OLB was just another rusher? What else do they do??
@@abdihassan7208 in a 3-4, it's the OLBers primary role to rush the QB, like Von Miller for a modern comparison. In the 4-3, the OLBers primary role is in pass coverage
Coach Chuck Knoll once said...………."I never saw Ham make a mistake playing football"...…….he never said that about any other player...……..Ham was that good.
If it came from Noll it's written in stone somewhere!
Noll*
@@p.j.4738 chuck NOLL, not chuck KNOX
When football was football, hitting was hitting with no one protected, the ground didn't cause a fumble, no replay challenges....
That's coming from a guy that wasn't big on compliments.
you had to be alive to watch the steelers in the 70's i had the pleasure and will never forget. this team was once in a lifetime.
mel bias I agree. Watching their games against the Cowboys, Vikings and Oilers were once in a lifetime treats. Those great teams!
AMAN Brother!!!!
I got to see quite a few games at Three Rivers back then. Those experiences will be with me till I'm put in the ground. And then maybe some more. :D
and should anyone take issue with his boast 22 players are in the hall of fame. Jack Lambert is the greatest linebacker inside or outside. Leapinng over the line al la Troy Palomano to the younger set to sack the qb. 9 consecutive pro bowl. But most of all the scariest player on the greatest team in football.
I wish I coulda seen them live, but I’ve watched so many on UA-cam. Not the same but close as I’ll get
Jack Ham did everything well. a complete linebacker if there ever was one.
Ham was best OLB ever...no question.
@@daleporter9162 Lawrence Taylor exists
@@daleporter9162 Hams the best 43 scheme defense linebacker .LT is the greatest overall elite high impact defender . Don't know how LT's impact would be in a 43 defense scheme where his responsibilities would be drastically different ,What we do factually know as a defensive player ie 34 scheme defense linebacker his impact was superior then any other linebacker and player in NFL history based on that scheme .Ham validated his case for best outside lb by being superb in pittsburghs 3 linebacker defense .He's not superior as a defensive player then LT because of LT's all time game changing impact ,yet Hams more complete game certainly provides context that he arguably could adopt more efficiently to a 43 defense then LT could to a 34 defense as LT was prone to go rogue and simply do what his instincts led him to as oppose to following the defensive set for that play ,sometimes jeopardizing the defense .In a 3 linebacker set you don't have the luxury of a additional lb to cover up for your mental or over agressive lapses .Ham would always be where he's supposed to be ,mistakes near as minimal as humanly possible .
@@daleporter9162 LT, Bobby Bell,Ted Hendricks ,are arguably inthe conversation as best outside linebackers .
@@aldiggty
Taylor was an EDGE. It is so hard to even compare a 4-3 backer like Ham to a 3-4 one like Taylor, they had completely different responsibilities.
Jack ham looks chill af
Ⓕⓡ
Always.
It's the quiet ones you gotta worry about
Fun fact: Jack Ham looks chill af
Lol
Ham was a quiet assassin. One of those guys who's so good at his job that you don't even notice half the time because he just gets it done. You only notice if he's not there.
Jack grew up in Johnstown, Pennsylvania and went to Bishop McCort. My grandmother went to school and graduated with him. In Johnstown, this is STEELER COUNTRY because of him.
They didn't mention that Ham was the only unanimous all 70s team selection and holds the record for most LB takeaways with 53.
32 ints and 21 fumble recoveries.
He did it in 12 seasons.
Ray Lewis is second and he played 17 seasons.
That is insane. One of the most underrated players in NFL history.
Pennsylvania born and bred.
We are always proud to say that about Jack Ham.
3:02: Classic example on how to tackle; hit them low and wrap up.
Best covering linebacker period
Jack Ham was at least the equivalent of 1 1/2 players. A textbook tackler as well as superb in pass coverage. It's like having a dime package in there all the time.
The Steelers and KISS on the 70's are the best of times, Happy childhood living in México City 🇲🇽. I'm still a fan.
You don't see such flawless tackling technique like Dobre Shunka in today's game...
J-F Pilote “Good Ham”
Been re watching some of the old Steeler games and Hamm is unreal. He had a nose for the football and was like someone's shadow on coverage. His outside linebacker play is textbook.
Of all of the great Steelers of that era, Ham was my favorite. Nothing flashy, just consistent and always: there.
Couldn't have made him #59?
That would have been way to corny...
I watched Jack play at PSU. It was a treat. Freshman hardly ever played. Sophomores got some play, but you were not a regular until a Junior. Seniors were featured. Every game he played was excellent - solid. He was not a hot dog or a show-off. PSU players did not humiliate opponents. He never tackled with his helmet/head. He played hard, but not vindictive or to intentionally injure an opponent, He a typical hardworking, blue collar, Johnstown PA native. Joe Paterno was a great man and got a raw deal. If you got on the wrong side of Joe, you were in his "dog house". PSU had great coaching.
Agree. Paterno was a hell of a coach and leader of men.
One of my favorite all-time Steelers. Jack Ham was solid and rarely out of position during a play. I always liked the 4-3 defense better than than the 3-4.
Joe Paterno looks like a mafia boss.
My favorite ALL-TIME Linebackers - Lawrence Taylor, Jack Ham, Mike Singletary & Ray Lewis
Celebrating Ham is not disparaging to LT, nor is a person's preference for Ham's style of play a slight to Taylor. Both are HoFers. Both were vital to Super Bowl titles.
Both were the best outside linebacker to ever play the game. But the fact is, though they're both called "outside linebacker", they played completely different positions. LT could not have done what Ham did, and vice-versa.
@@michaelrstover Well said, Michael. I agree 100%,
LT changed the game.
A monument to quiet greatness. I couldn’t have said it better
Love watching vintage Joe Pa. We Are!
We are......Ped State! 🛁🛁
Penn State!!!
Ham was a true outside linebacker. Can't compare him to some OLBs after him, since many are "edge" players, with a different role.
But yet still lawrence taylor is he goat at olb
yaboi sami LT was ONE DIMENSIONAL. Fierce pass rusher was about it.
@@Lucille69caddy
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One dimensional my ass.
@@Lucille69caddy LT was far from one dimensional. Look at his highlights. He played the gunner on punt coverage early in his career. LT was great against the pass, against the run , and pass rushing. LT was dominant everywhere. He played MLB on goal line Defense, because he could read the RB and meet the dive into the end zone.
@@PFB1994His forte wasn't pass coverage,which caused unrest amongst bill parcels and Hof teammate harry Carson because LT often was free lancing or early in his career ,simply not cognizant of where he was supposed to be aligned at. Lawrence Taylor is the perfect example that great players elite impact supercede their legendary stats, which his impact surely did ,very good players impact equal their significant stats ,good players stats supercede their actual impact . Lawrence Taylor impact vs run and rushing the QB was transcended,but his weakness despite possesing the capabilities to be excellent at it was pass coverage. Ham.played most of his career in a 43 defense,LT played mostly in a 34 ,thus different responsibilities were prerequisite requirements for both elite gentleman. Lawrence isn't the all time sack leader at OLB , Kevin Greene is,Ham is still the all time leader in turnovers at his position. Purely based upon overall significant impact I'd take Lawrence Taylor, the Steelers would still have won at least one SB without his splendid services ,the giants without Lawrence Taylor would have not only never won a SB ,they wouldn't have ever advanced into one during that time frame without Lawrence Taylor,but Jack Ham was a more diversified OLB ,you could cover up more decencies on your defense with Ham ie pass coverage,holding down the edge vs run, blitzing, then with Lawrence Taylor. Both gentleman were superb ,at their craft ,based upon the construct of the defense they played in ,LT a NFL top 10 all time player , Ham a top 60 all time NFL player .
There will never again be a trio of LB'ers like Jack Ham , Andy Russell and Jack Lambert
....and Russell was replaced by Robin friggin' Cole! I think Ham was replaced by Merriweather. Good grief. They just scoop great LB's out of the 3 rivers like they're carp.
@@TheTicktockman321 then Porter to Harrison, Foote to Timmons, Llyod to Gildon to Haggans to Woodley. It really is unbelievable how good they are at it.
@@Vanillawind1138 TJ Watt now
@@Vanillawind1138 don't forget Kevin Greene
@@Yeomannn Watt is great, but he is not a linebacker in the traditional sense.
Jack ham was the most complete linebacker every to play..and the best linebacker ever period..he never rubbed anything in anyone's face...a unselfish player..jack lambert and Tom Jackson both said he is the best to ever play..enough said
60 they have to be out of their mind. freakin jack ham !
Damn right, and Andy Russell belongs in Canton with him!
Cowboys fan here. We had two shots at these guys in the Super Bowl back then and they were just flat out better - period.
Lambert, Ham, Greene, hell that entire defense were named the Steel Curtain for a reason. Ferocious competitors !
Jackie Smith
@@davidhutchinson7888 Yep and you can't let opportunities pass like that, especially against the Steelers. That one and "The Catch" are about as heartbreaking as it gets.
Just a quiet beast. Pure greatness.
Jack Ham #59 of the Pittsburgh Steelers
Career Accomplishments
Pittsburgh Steelers (1971-82)
8x Pro Bowl selection
8x All-Pro selection
1975 Defensive Player of the Year (Pro Football Writers Association)
4x Super Bowl Champion
25 sacks
21 fumble recoveries
32 interceptions
53 combined takeaways are the most ever by a non-defensive back
Pro Football Hall of Fame selection
somethin different in Pennsylvanians 💪🏼, must be somethin in the water💪🏼.
Johnstown, PA ❤️
Hershey, PA and Harrisburg where I’m from
Led
Whenever you rate defensive players remember the era they played in, the 70's went from a running league and the policy board chose to make a number of changes midway through the decade because the defenses were too physical, so the league made 3 rule changes all aiding the offensive side of the ball due in no small part to the Steel Curtain
And they still dominated
I am 69 years old that tells you everything I lived breathed and watched the great 70 steelers play every game for 12 years straight 72 to 80 never missed one if it was televised
I swear every player on this entire list is either on the Browns, Steelers, packers, or cowboys
I think Jack Ham,Thomas Henderson,LT and Derrick Thomas were the best outside LBers I ever saw.
As a Penn State Fan! He is definitely a player that gave Penn State credit aa Linebacker U!!! As A Pittsburgh Steeler, No Other OLB could be close!
One of the funniest football quips I ever heard was in a Steelers game when Hamm intercepted deep in his own end of the field, then returned it for a TD. It probably took him at least 12 seconds to run 95 yards or so. Lambert said he should've been flagged for delay of game. What a joy it was to watch the '70s Steelers, especially when they played Oakland or Dallas.
It was a Andy Russell fumble return for TD , forced by a blitzing Jack Ham hit on colts QB Bert Jones, in the division round vs colts in 1975 ,at Three Rivers Stadium in the 4 qtr . The play is shown on the Steelers 1975 season highlights ,during their post season . Google Steelers 1975 season UA-cam .
you're thinking of andy russell
"His career was one big, good play."
I believe the Steelers of the 70's would crushed the Patriots of today for sure put a hurting on mr clean tom Brady!!
Brady might complain sometimes but he always gets up off the turf
The game was different then, you can't compare.
@@Count_Mephistopheles , I disagree, these guys knew how to tackle. You still can't compare 40 plus year separation from those times until now. Training/exercising has changed tremendously, along with diet. Lambert today would probably be 250lbs of muscle today, not the 220, if that, back then. Please, no comparison.
@@Count_Mephistopheles , is that kicking ass? Also, arguably the Steelers best year until they lost Franco and Bleier at the end.
Ok boomer
So awesome they had joe pa at his induction, miss that man a lot.
That 70s Steelers team is what made me a life long Steelers fan.
What crazy talent they had! Hammer was from Johnstown, went to PSU, and played only for yhe Steelers. He's as Keystone as they come.
If Ham played against the current "air it out offenses", he would have more chances to add to his 32 interceptions. The '70 were more run dominant.
I love that there are so many Steelers form the 70’s on here but they should have put some modern ones too!
Ham way down at 60? that fucken blows!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Not really. Bobby Bell and Mike Curtis were a lot better.
"a lot better"??? no
ALOT better, YES!!!
Ham is top 1-3 most technically sound lb.
So were Bell and Curtis, and Bell was a much better athlete. AND Curtis played both the middle and the outside! Ham and the rest of the Steelers of that time were overrated and over-hyped by the press, especially Lambert. Andy Russell ran around like he had shit up his ass. I mean, The chiefs linebackers of that time, Bell, Lanier and Lynch, were a lot better than the Steelers set. Ham was good, but please!!
As a PSU and Steelers fan… I saw Jack Ham play as much as anyone. 0:45 is a great description!
JACK HAM was quiet but he was the CLEANER,
Jack was never ever out of position.
The thing I love most about Jack Ham is his loyalty. He stood by Joe Paterno.
I was told a story about the time his wife was on a TV show in Pittsburgh. The host asked her if she ever got worried when they ran at his side of the field. Her reply: "They don't run at Jack's side of the field". Best multi-purpose linebacker I've ever seen.
I'm a pats fan and I admit that the Steelers are probably my second favorite team
griffin martel you only like the lot of super bowl teams
@@KaurSingh-bo6gq nah i actually like the browns and cardinals too but i see that your a raiders fan i respect their franchise too bo jackson,marcus allen, howie long.
Nfl network had a top ten Pittsburgh Steelers show and they didn’t include Jack Ham and it greatly upset me.
Why are they asking a comedian about outside linebackers, the closest he got to a football was in a toys R us store.
LMFAO
Not true he was a host on Monday night football back in the day. Maybe you don't remember. He was in the play by play booth on Monday night football in the 1990s. For real
If you don't believe me look it up.
Did the guy at the beginning seriously fail to mention Lawrence Taylor?
Flashback - Gaming Content and More! That son of a bitch is obviously biased towards the Steelers. He presented Terry Bradshaw as well
Flashback - Gaming Content and More! LT was a 3-4 pass rusher not a 4-3 traditional OLB. Ham was the only unanimous all 70s team selection and holds the record for most LB takeaways with 53.
32 ints and 21 fumble recoveries.
He did it in 12 seasons.
Ray Lewis is second and he played 17 seasons.
He said all around linebacker. Taylor never covered the pass like Ham. The Steelers used a 4-3 and Ham seldom blitzed, so he got few sacks by comparison. All Taylor did was rush the passer.
Ham was great, but Lawrence Taylor is ahead of everybody
nk5350 lolololol good one
Should be ranked in top 20, close to LT, Lewis, and Butkis.
I agree, I am a Steeler fan, but Dick Butkus might be the best football player ever. Everything about him said Football.
Agreed, Jay. Ranking number _sixty_ is pretty silly!
Cool, who shall we bump to make that happen? Barry Sanders? Mean Joe Greene? Ronnie Lott? When people say that the rankings aren't right they're talking about moving insanely talented people. Who are we going to bump? I think his slot is perfect, in fact I think everyone on this list is in the right place.
JoJo JoJo I'm also a Steelers fan and I think that's one of the dumbest comments ever made. Ham did it with one of the best defenses. Smh. How many Hall of Famers did Ham have and how many did Butkus have on his defense?
BUTKUS, Richard
Tackling Earl Campbell in the open field is enough to get him on the list
Truth.
Therefore the 8X12 next to my TV. Jack Ham the best
From the steel mill town of Johnstown, Pa.
1970's football was true football. I miss those days
One of my 3 favorite players along with Coy Bacon and Chris Hamburger.
hamburger and ham were simlar. similar line backers too.
When I was growing up in the 70’s, Jack Ham this aura about him. He didn’t seem as dominant as Joe or LC and the other Hall of Famers but he almost seemed like he’d never make a mistake or miss a tackle. I’m not a Steelers fan but I remember having his football card was a big deal…
Reminds me of Luke Kuechly a bit...tackling machine
My dad was close friends with Jack Ham from going to college with him at PSU. He’d come over to our house frequently in our suburban PA home.
I as a child and a completely rabid Steelers fan was completely dumbstruck and starstruck by his mere presence.
A few other guys would come over, and they’d grill and play Risk together.
Eventually Jack bought the mineral rights to some land near Johnstown, PA and hired my dad who was a mining engineer to be a consultant for him. Terrific man.
Jack Ham is a great guy, too
One of the things you notice was that he had incredible hands for a LB. So many of those picks would have fallen as incomplete with any other LB but Ham made them stick.
I grew up inJack Ham’s neighborhood in Johnstown (woodvale Heights) i still live there.
I love any commentary by DENNIS MILLER!!! He makes you so PROUD to be a Steeler Fan!!
havingfun1968 Miller Sucks!!!!!
Ooowwweee!!! I remember... I remember
3:02 that is how to tackle correctly 💪💪💪
Bobby Bell is the GOAT at OLB. Nobody better at playing the run and pass.
jack ham played in the 4-3 at OLB and I think he was the greatest OLB in THAT defense . you gotta make a case for bobby bell who played that same OLB and the first OLB enshrined in the PFBHOF . there is no comparing ham to LT they played a totally different defense and OLB . The question should be could ham had made the impact and change the game like a LT ? Would Ham make the same impact in a 3-4 as a rush linebacker and change the game like LT or even an Andre Tippett and Derrick Thomas ? no doubt that ham was probably the best pass covering linebacker to play the position hands down !!!
thanks for helping people understand
jay johnson JH didn't need to rush the passer. He had the rest of the Steel Curtain around him so he could focus mostly on pass coverage. LT was one-dimensional as the best pass rushing OLB to ever play the game. Teams game planned AROUND him, or tried to.
Jack Ham was the complete package. He's the best outside linebacker of all-time. Name someone who could do it in all three phases: excellent in coverage, stop the run and rush the passer!
yves johnson Lawrence Taylor
Connor N Jack Ham...no if's ands or buts...I said, quote: "in all three phases". Name the last time you saw Lawrence Taylor play in space and intercept passes like Ham could!
@@ydjlearn You mean like this?
ua-cam.com/video/BN8A68mwcw8/v-deo.html
Ham couldn't have done that on his best day.
LT was the best OLB in NFL history, and he could cover with a vengeance!.....
Tony Conner LT couldn't sniff JH's #3 ranking in interceptions. LT was the best pass rushing OLB in NFL history, but that's it. One dimensional.
@@Lucille69caddy
ua-cam.com/video/BN8A68mwcw8/v-deo.html
“The guy had a FREAKIN GUN” 😂
WE ARE!!
@ yusof h WE ARE.......supporters of child molesters and those who enable them?
As a Dallas Cowboys fan who grew up hating the Steelers, I have to acknowledge that Defense was fearsome. I often thought it unfair that Jack Ham and Jack Lambert were in the same Linebacker corp lol.
If Ham played today he'd be far more revered. You have to remember that back then MLB's were considered more valuable than OLB's. So when you have two of the best ever at their positions side by side, people remembered the guy that made 14-15 tackles per game more than the do-it-all guy alongside.
MLB was the crem de la crem of defensive positions back then. now not so much
Trip Aces, Jack Hamm, Andy Russell, and Jack Lambert!
The MOST complete outside linebacker EVER, and yes he was better than Taylor. Taylor’s coverage could NEVER match the Hammer. But when Taylor brought it, there was NOTHING much enjoyable to watch. But to be complete, you have to be great in everything, and that was JACK HAM. And mind you I hate the Steelers, and I saw both play being an old guy, and by far HAM was the MAN!
people need to refer to LT as a stand up d end
Why? He was a 3-4 OLB who changed the game rushing the passer & also played at the line against the run & downfield in pass coverage.
@The Anthropologist _Forensic
You played DE in a two point stance??
That's why LT is labeled an OLBer and not a DE.
I've been saying that for years. The best pass rushing OLB ever.
tubewatcher38 LT couldn't cover near as well as The Hammer. #3 all time in interceptions for an OLB. He stopped the run as well. With that D-line though, he didn't need to rush the passer much. LT best pass rushing OLB ever, no question.
@@Lucille69caddy LT stopped the run better than Ham ever did.
Probably smartest defender game has had. The other Jack before Lambert was. Had some nasty LBs and defenders in Pittsburgh.
What a player and career, all with the Steelers. The one sad note was he missed their final Super Bowl against the Rams due to injury.
no diss to the 70´s steelers LBs... but they played behind the arguably the best D-line ever.
That does make it kind of hard to compare, admittedly. I think they would still have been great even behind a mediocre D-line, but how can we know for sure? It's not like we can rent an alternate timeline machine and run experiments....
That Dr J quote reference says a lot..Ham was insane
Great OLB! 👏
They fail to mention the hall of fame linebacker chris hanburger
@michael mike jones
He had an incredible sense of smell. He could smell that pigskin a mile away, which is why he was so damn good against
the run, or the pass.
I went to private school, and one of the few black students in my grade always said Jack Ham was his favorite football player. I think Jack's appeal was mainly his football instincts: a smart player whose proximity to the ball was always marked by good defense & intelligence. A 'thinking man's' linebacker who complimented the aggressive intimidation of Lambert, Greenwood and Greene.
There great in there generation...honestly
OMG he was all that & then some. ( thanks Jack )
Pittsburgh is famous for great line backers. For many year's still are
Lawerence Taylor will always be the og linebacker of all time n I say that as a Steelers fan, but jack ham is the model NFL teams are looking for TODAY n he played in the run first 70's. Run stuff, blitzer, coverage in zone and can man up on a tight end like a safety.....that's wat teams dream off. Ham n a few others accomplished this. Another who's under appreciated is derrick brooks from those Tampa bay teams.
Ham was like the original version of Derrick Brooks.
What do have?
A pair of Jack's..
The best!
Ham, and Lam, 2 of the best to ever play.
The great Ham.
Steeler football - it was great!
Beast